It wouldn’t be a complete Mobile World Congress without an invasion of interchangeable Android and Windows tablets, and perhaps the least exciting brand-name slates to go official in Barcelona these past 24 hours are Lenovo’s IdeaPad Miix 300, Tab 2 A10-70 and Tab 2 A8.

It’s no secret that those with deep passions will go through great lengths to pursue them. But sometimes having that ‘eye on the prize’ also gives you tunnel vision, making you less aware of anything else except reaching the goal. Unfortunately, this opens up opportunities for predatory marketing.

The aptly named Huawei Watch has just gone official at the 2015 Mobile World Congress, and believe it or not, it’s a gizmo to be reckoned with. No ifs, no buts, no “considering how cheap it might be”. It’s a legitimate contender for the title of best Android Wear device out and about, and it directly takes aim at the Apple Watch as well.

Probably realizing it can no longer compete against the likes of Apple or Samsung in the extravagantly priced high-end mobile segment, and acknowledging Motorola’s entry-level low-cost dominance, Sony has decided to go after the in-between target audience.

Deadline reports that HBO will put forth a miniseries called Ms. about Gloria Steinem, notable leader in the feminist movement and founder of Ms. Magazine. Marisa Tomei and Kathy Najimy will star, topline and executive produce the show for HBO. This continues Najimy’s existing relationship with the network – she also stars on HBO’s Veep. Someone named George Clooney is also attached to produce (ever heard of him?).

HTC’s pre-MWC press conference is over, and unlike what we were led to believe in recent weeks, the Taiwanese company only brought the one new flagship phone to Barcelona. The One M9, that is, with the M9 Plus either an elaborate hoax, or just not ready for primetime yet.

Madonna tumbled off a set of prop stairs onstage while performing at the Brit Awards and it looked like it hurt. But in true heroic fashion channeling the spirit of “honey, I forgot to duck” survivalism, Madonna is not only uninjured but has created a teachable moment out of her fall.

With so many battery packs out there in various shapes, colors, and capacities, there’s almost no end to the choices available. But, on the upside, it makes for a greater range of personalization. It’s easier than ever to accessorize with a certain look that you want to portray.

The jig is up, Sony, and we know full well what’s up your sleeve for next week’s Mobile World Congress. The Xperia M4 Aqua is an open book, and the Xperia Z4 Tablet is no big puzzle either. Alas, the Z4 smartphone will most likely stay on the sidelines a couple more months, hopefully to score enough upgrades to clearly set itself apart from the Z3.

Slowly but steadily, BlackBerry’s US business is picking up, with sales of unlocked Passports and Classics reportedly breaking recent records, and carriers lined up to get a piece of the on-contract action. AT&T just welcomed both hybrid touchscreen/QWERTY keyboard-sporting handhelds on the network, and Verizon quickly followed its main rival’s lead.

I opened the mail package and, upon realizing what was enclosed, immediately took off around the office like a boomerang. I think my co-workers would describe me as a hybrid between a cheetah and that four year old boy everyone comes across in Disneyland-- the one with volume control problems and discipline issues. That's me with this selfie stick. I have never been so excited in my life. Here's a small sample of the photos that resulted in the following hours days.

Ready to start the Galaxy S6 and One M9 countdowns? At least as far as the former goes, you can literally do just that by heading over to YouTube. Then, in a little under 48 hours, this link will replace the timer with a live video feed from Samsung’s pre-MWC Barcelona press conference.

Just when Verizon customers thought the torment was over, and they’d be able to buy the biggest, fastest, coolest Nexus smartphone yet directly from their favorite carrier… nothing happened. The Nexus 6 is still listed on Verizon’s website as “coming soon”, and the sign-up page gives away no clues vis-à-vis the launch date.

Let’s not act surprised. Year after year, it’s the same scenario. The big fishes present at glamorous events like CES or MWC steal all the limelight of the shows, while the lower-profile exhibitors are forced to resort to early announcements. It’s the only way they can secure their ephemeral 15 minutes of fame.

If you thought yesterday's llama chase was laughable enough, I'm sure #TheDress controversy will just make you shudder. But the good news about bad news is that it leads to amazing reactions on social media. That way, when you're freaking out wondering if the media has gone to the dogs, you can find solace in the fact that the rest of the world also sees the ridiculousness.

Acknowledging it doesn’t stand a chance against the likes of Apple and Samsung in a fair tablet fight for the time being, LG has pulled all the stops recently to make its G Pads too cheap to turn down. With or without contracts, from AT&T or Verizon, via eBay or Newegg, these respectable mid-rangers have constantly undercut iPads and Galaxy Tabs by hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

It should probably come as no shock Samsung has its sights set on a few mid-range Galaxies in addition to flagship smartphones for Lollipop bumps over the next months. It’s also no surprise the Galaxy S5 mini is among the non-high-enders targeted for 5.0 goodie packs.

No stranger to nichey gear, meant to survive wars, not look pretty, and all sorts of rugged experiments, Kyocera is ready to take things to the next level, by exploring the market for gadgets drawing their juice from alternative energy sources. Namely, the tireless sun.

Using a LoopPay fob digital wallet to pay in stores, taxis, and restaurants, has replaced my wallet, better than ApplePay, but it’s about to change as Samsung has acquired LoopPay as a fully owned subsidiary. The technology doesn’t require bank or store participation as it uses Magnetic Secure Transmission that can be read by POS (point of sale) as if a credit or debit card has been swiped.

Perhaps jealous of all the attention HTC’s been getting this past week in the wake of some very thorough One M9 visual leaks, Samsung may have let the cat out of the bag once and for all. Granted, the Galaxy S6 was never the world’s best kept secret, but aside from a few schematics and parts of the alleged metal skeleton, we were yet to see the “next big thing” in the flesh.

Although Motorola was recently forced to justify its Android 5.0 upgrading lethargy for the original 2013 Moto X, we’re still waiting for a solid explanation as to the Lollipop delays on the advanced 2014 variant. And no, the “contemporary” Snapdragon 801 processor can’t be at fault here.

We've all been there: you're hanging out with your friends in the kitchen, listening to Spotify on a bluetooth speaker, and suddenly a lyric dispute comes up. Quickly, your best friend becomes your mortal enemy as you rewind and play through the troublesome lyric in the chosen song over and over again. Maybe it's just my group of friends, but we still remember the battle over Nicki Minaj's "Starships."

LoopPay delivers on what ApplePay, Google Wallet and CurrentC can only dream about: it allows you to leave your wallet at home. LoopPay’s bluetooth devices use MGT—Magnetic Secure Transmission— instead of the NFC (near field communication) technology in Google Wallet and Apple Pay.

Between Sony’s money problems, leading to rampant rumors the Xperia smartphone division is up for sale, and the Z4’s near-guaranteed “delay”, we were pretty certain at one point the Japanese would skip this year’s Mobile World Congress altogether.

Hive is a new smart home system that's gaining a ton of traction on Kickstarter. It's billed as a system that anyone can afford and that offers complete security, automation, and whole home audio all in one.

There is seemingly no limit on digital innovation for the home. I mean, you know that "dumb" ventilation fan in your bathroom? Well, that's your father's ventilation fan. The cool kidz are moving on to ventilation fans with Bluetooth speakers built-in.

An untapped spot in the market is home surveillance. Kephart says he has yet to hear of any home security applications whatsoever. But, as the Internet of Things heats up with connected home appliances and systems, it's likely we'll see automated drone technology find its footing in home surveillance.